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Communication Studies
Masters Level Research
Guide
Get to the databases: http://www.csulb.edu/library
Get to the Slides: http://www.csulb.edu/~ttravis/classes/communications.htm
Workshops: http://www.csulb.edu/library/instruction/workshops.html

Before you get to the computer…

1. Start with a Research Topic
2. Identify keywords & synonyms
3. Create search statements using And, Or, W1

AND narrows a search.

example: television AND viewing

OR broadens a search.
example: viewing OR watching

W1 makes your terms appear together as a phrase

example: reality w1 television

Helpful Search Tips

Truncation *
Allows you to include all possible word-endings
Theor* looks for theory, theories and theorize

Parenthesis
Can be used to greatly expand or restrict a search
(internet or online) and social w1 interaction

Psycinfo Search tips

Use subjects to narrow your search
Use publication type, methodology or age group to make your search smaller
Type the word communication in the “journal articles” box to eliminate psychology journals
Email using APA format

Communication and Mass Media complete

Use Thesaurus and author keywords
ALWAYS click on the Scholarly Peer Reviewed option
Try the “more like this option”

Coast and Link Plus

Use for finding books and other media
You can only request books from link +; takes 3-5 working days
Search for “electronic books” to find ebooks

Web Of Science
Use this to find out who has cited a particular article or scholar
Use Cited Reference Search
 2

Refworks
Use this to manage your references and format your papers
Compatible with both CMMC and PsycInfo
Attend a workshop if you need more information

Review the TWO step process for getting journal articles

Step ONE
Get citations from index
Author, title, journal title, volume, page number year

Step TWO
If you are using a research database click on the SFX link if it is available
If you are find your article citation in print- search the catalog by JOURNAL title to see if we
own it electronically or in print
Use ArticleReach for the fastest possible turnaround for ILL- make sure you check the box
that says you searched COAST or else your request gets bounced back!!!

APA Paper Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue University)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ (easier to search in Google: purdue apa owl

Tips for finding Communication Theories

Search for articles by the author of the theory
Search for articles with the theory name
Cognitive w1 dissonance
Keep in mind sometimes people will refer to the theory without using the word theory
Social penetration or social penetration theory

How to Get a Library Password

Go to Coast https://coast.library.csulb.edu/patroninfo
Type in your name, CSULB I.D. #, and a PIN/Password number of your choice
Confirm Password by typing it twice more
If just shows your name- it worked!

STILL Need Help?

Tiffini Travis ttravis@csulb.edu
Yahoo and MSN: csulb_librarian
AOL and GTalk: csulblibrarian
Twitter: mojo_girl (Tiffini)
Twitter: Csulb_Library (general library info)